Nov. 14, 2009

By Tom Weber
www.SIUSalukis.com

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CARBONDALE, Ill. - Maybe Chris Lowery was serious when he said his team was going to play a more up-tempo style this season. The sixth-year head coach watched his Southern Illinois squad dismantle UT-Martin Saturday night, 91-63. It was the most points SIU has scored in a game since Matt Painter coached the team in 2004.

"We have good shooters -- we have guys who can make shots-- so (91 points) didn't surprise me," Lowery said. "Our guards did a really good job -- especially Kevin (Dillard)-- of running the ball club. He's grown up so much on both sides of the ball and trying to make sure everybody is in the right position."

The sophomore point guard scored 14 points and guided a precision attack that picked apart the Skyhawks (0-1) from outside in the first half and pounded them on the inside in the second.

The Salukis (1-0), who won their 10th-straight season opener, had five players score in double figures, led by Carlton Fay's 18.

"Carlton was special for us off the bench," Lowery said. "When you can bring a guy like him off of the bench who can go get shots like he can and make them, it just makes our bench guys feel more comfortable. He's our sixth starter right now."

Fay dropped in his first 3-point shot of the night as part of an opening salvo of Saluki treys. SIU made 7-of-15 shots from 3-point range in the first half to take a 43-25 lead.

"They were moving without the ball very well, and our guys weren't doing a very good job of following cutters," said UT-Martin head coach Jason James. "The players are good enough when they get their feet set, they can make shots."

The only negative Lowery could find with the team's first-half offense was its 13 turnovers.

"At least we got back on D," he noted. "I tell them all the time you can make mistakes, but don't compound it by jogging back. I thought we did a good job of getting back and getting out to their shooters and not allowing them to have wide-open shots."

SIU's exploited its significant size advantage over UT-Martin in the second half.

Forward Anthony Booker scored all 10 of his points after halftime and also blocked two shots. Along with Nick Evans (four points and eight rebounds) and Fay, Southern's front court out-scored the Skyhawks' front line, 32-15.

"Fay and Booker -- those guys can play inside and outside," James said. "They are a tough matchup, because they are all strong. They know how to score. The Evans kid is very active."

Fay made 6-of-7 shots from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line.

"We just have a lot of big bodies right now," added Lowery. "Carlton, Nick and Book are really tough to deal with right now, because they're big and strong."

Lowery substituted liberally during the game, with no player on the floor for more than 25 minutes total. The bench scored 44 points, including a dozen by true freshman Kendal Brown-Surles.

"Coach really talked about valuing your time whenever you get in there," Brown-Surles said. "That's one thing we all try to do--play aggressive. He said attack the rim and play as if you're starting."

Lowery said his team still has much room for improvement. He liked the effort in holding UT-Martin to 37.7 percent, but said the defense isn't quite where it needs to be. He also would have preferred a bigger advantage on the glass than SIU's 36-34 margin. Overall, though, he was pleased.

"I like my team," he said. "Sometimes they don't understand why I'm so hard on them. But if we keep playing and practicing hard then good things will happen."